However, she doesn’t understand how totally she has burrowed under my skin. If I had any doubt of her being mine, it was obliterated the moment she stepped into my office this morning.
I need to let her catch up before I scare her to death.
I push open a door to an empty room, move to the next, open it as well, and stop. “Maybe these two could be yours. They’re connected.” I point toward a door near the back of the room. “I’ll have a desk brought up here from the office right away, so you’ll have a place to work tonight. We can order what you like soon.”
She turns to stare at me. “Blade. My head is spinning. You can’t order me furniture. And what on Earth would I need two rooms for? A desk would be nice, but other than that, if I could stay here a few nights until I can figure something out, a mattress on the floor is sufficient or even the couch. Don’t you have a guest room with a bed, though?”
“Uh…yes.” I turn and open another door. This room is fully furnished. It even has an attached bath. She has totally misunderstood me because I’ve been way too cryptic. Neither of the two rooms across the hall will be for June to sleep in. I was picturing an office and a playroom. No beds. Maybe a daybed in case she wants to nap. But my girl will be sleeping in my bed. Our bed.
I might need to consider the fact that she won’t be ready for that immediately, but the thought of her sleeping down the hall from me makes me cringe inside. I want to be able to hear her every movement. She has a broken arm. She needs help getting up. She might need pain meds in the night. She…
Stop.
I have to slow the fuck down.
She sets her small hand on my arm. “So…here’s an idea. And before you balk, hear me out. What if…” She’s grinning. Is she teasing me?
I can’t keep from smiling in return. She is teasing. Adorable.
Her fingers grip my arm tighter. “What if I used this room that already has furniture in it for the night? I don’t need a desk. I can work on the bed.”
I chuckle. No. Not a chance. But I don’t speak. I’m going to say a lot soon, but not right this second. Instead, I lift her fingers to my lips and kiss them.
That’s right. I fucking kiss her fingers. It’s intimate. I hold her gaze while I do it. I don’t need words to communicate that this isn’t temporary or platonic for me.
Her mouth opens, but she doesn’t say anything.
I smirk, thread my fingers with hers again, and nod toward the far end of the hallway. “Come.” I lead her through my bedroom and into the master bath. “I bet you could use a soak.”
She gasps, eyes wide. “Holy shit, Blade. That’s the biggest tub I’ve ever seen.”
“Is it?” I guess it is big. “I’ll be honest. I’ve never used it. I had it installed for…” You. That would sound insane, so I hold it back. “I mean, it seemed like a reasonable thing to include in the master bathroom, but I’ve never been in it. I think the cleaning crew runs it sometimes, so I guess it works. We’ll find out.”
She jerks her gaze to me. “That’s not necessary, Blade. Plus,” she holds up her arm, “I’m at a bit of a disadvantage here. I don’t think I could even climb over the ledge without breaking my neck. In addition, I’m not supposed to take this cast off unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
The cast she’s wearing is removable, but I assume that’s because her arm was too swollen to put a permanent one on it.
I lift her chin. Every time I do so, her breath hitches a little. She likes it when I tip her head back. “I’ll get a plastic bag to cover it. Do you have a follow-up booked with an orthopedist?”
“Not yet. I haven’t had time to make an appointment.”
“I have a few connections. I’ll make some calls and find someone who can fit you in.”
“Blade… You don’t have to do everything for me. I’m so grateful for a place to stay until I can figure something else out. That’s huge. But I promise not to overstay my welcome. I can make calls tomorrow and get things sorted.”
I think I need to be a bit more blunt about my feelings, so I lower my head slowly toward hers, giving her plenty of time to pull back if she doesn’t want this. And then I gently kiss her lips.
“Oh…” she whispers.
“Any questions?”
“About a dozen.”
I chuckle. “Good. Ask me anything at any time. Now, I’m going to go get a plastic bag, then I’m going to help you climb into the tub. I don’t have anything girly to wash your pretty brown hair with, so you’re going to smell like me until we can rectify that, but I bet you’ll feel a hundred times better after a bath. Yeah?”
She slowly nods. “I… You…”
I set my forehead against hers. “I’ll wash you, honey. Can you handle that?”
